Gateway Mine

Gateway Mine is a non-union underground mine in Randolph County near Coulterville, Illinois, owned by Peabody Energy. The mine began production in July 2005. In 2008, the mine sold 3.2 million tons of steam coal, primarily to major utility and industrial customers in the mid-West.

On Sep. 27, 2010, Peabody announced that it plans to expand yearly production capacity at its Gateway mine by 40%. The $175-million project will extend the life of the operation at least 16 years, by increasing underground operations north of the existing site and digging up around 4.5 million tons of coal a year. Gateway has an additional 280-million tons of reserves available for expansion “in favorable market conditions”, Peabody said. The project still requires permitting and regulatory approval, and the company has started work on licensing and mine engineering for the expansion.

Besides the newly approved expansion at Gateway, Peabody is also expanding six mines in Australia, ramping up operations at the Bear Run Mine in Indiana and increasing production at the El Segundo mine in New Mexico.

History
The mine operates seven days a week, year round, with one to three production shifts per day on two and a half supersection units to extract coal from the Herrin No. 6 seam. The coal goes from the mine via a 1,200-foot beltline to temporary storage and then travels by overland belt 1.4 miles to the preparation plant. The preparation plant scrubs the coal using heavy media cyclones. After scrubbing, it is stored in a 10,000-ton silo and a 100,000-ton above-ground storage/loadout facility before shipping to customers. Coal is shipped in 125-car unit trains or travels via train to a Mississippi River dock, where it is transloaded onto barges.

Peabody bought the mine from Lexington Coal Company. In early 2005 Black Beauty signed a long-term coal supply agreement with Northern Indiana Public Service Company. Black Beauty said the Gateway Mine will provide all the coal to fulfill the contract.

Mine Data

 * Owner: Black Beauty Coal Company
 * Parent company: Peabody Energy
 * Location: 13101 Zeigler mine Rd, Coulterville, Illinois
 * GPS coordinates:38.181057,-89.656591
 * Production: 3.2 million tons (2008)
 * Type of coal: Steam
 * Mine type: Underground
 * Equipment:
 * Number of employees: 220
 * Recoverable Reserves: 16 million tons

Contact Information
Black Beauty Coal Company Coulterville, IL 62237 Phone: (618)758-3520

Articles and resources
The Illinois Coal Industry Statutory Mandated Report 2008 an industry report containing information on Illinois mines.

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